Review by Jon Donnis
Salem's Lot is a throwback to classic vampire horror, following Ben Mears as he returns to the creepy little town of Jerusalem's Lot, only to find himself and everyone around him pulled into a full-scale vampire invasion. At its core, Salem's Lot has all the right elements: vampires, spooky houses, suspicious locals, and a dark history lurking beneath it all. The cast is packed with likeable characters and solid performances, especially Lewis Pullman as Ben and Makenzie Leigh as Susan, who make a convincing pair trying to make sense of the nightmare unfolding around them.
The plot sticks fairly close to Stephen King's original novel, which is one of its biggest strengths and weaknesses. On one hand, it honours the book with faithful details and a slow build-up, aiming to capture that sense of dread King does so well. On the other, the pacing suffers, dragging on too long and introducing far too many characters without giving us enough reason to care about most of them. The vampires don't feel as terrifying as they could, and there's often a sense that the film flinches at the crucial moments. The scares tend to fall short, and when things get violent, they often cut away just when it starts to get good, which is a bit of a letdown for a horror film in 2024. Audiences expect something more intense, but Salem's Lot seems to shy away from delivering it.
Visually, the film is striking, with some truly atmospheric scenes. Despite the pacing issues leading up to it, the climax does pay off in a satisfyingly chaotic vampire showdown. Watching the town fall to these mad-eyed monsters is fun, and the scenes with Mark Petrie fighting back are particularly gripping. Yet the film's reluctance to dive fully into the horror leaves it feeling more like a high-budget TV movie than a blockbuster horror film. For all its promise, it lacks bite.
Salem's Lot is entertaining enough for a casual watch, and die-hard Stephen King fans might appreciate the loyalty to the book, but it misses the mark when it comes to delivering real scares. In the end, it's a decent, if slightly underwhelming, entry into the vampire genre. I'd give it a 6 out of 10, fine for a night in, but not something to rush to the cinema for.
Out in selected cinemas now, and on digital.
